PTA Will Block All Illegal and Unregistered Phones After October 20

Millions of illegal mobile handsets are at the risk of being blocked by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) after October 20 as part of a massive drive against fake IMEIs throughout the country.

According to the PTA, illegal mobile handsets that don’t come with a valid IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number will be blocked after the expiry of the deadline.

In this regard, the telecom watchdog formally circulated an SMS recently, asking people to get their handsets verified and check if it possesses a valid IMEI number. Otherwise, it will be blocked after October 20.

It also directed users to check and match their IMEI numbers with data from PTA by sending an SMS on 8484.

Only ten days are left till the deadline.

Scope of DIRBS

The telecom regulator has implemented DIRBS (Device Identification Registration & Blocking System, which is a system designed to reduce the use of non-compliant devices.

This system aimed at blocking illegal handsets include those with no or duplicated IMEI numbers, smuggled and snatched mobile phone and other SIM-run devices.

According to the telecoms watchdog, millions of handsets, have been smuggled or not registered with the PTA. Reportedly handsets with duplicated IMEI numbers were smuggled or imported through grey channels. These handheld sets and other devices like tablets will be blocked by PTA after October 20.

At present, many handsets with duplicate IMEIs are available in the market, especially the low-cost, copy-cat versions of branded mobile phones. Those who bought these categories of phones might incur losses.

It is worthwhile to mention here that the telecom watchdog constituted a Type Approval system to reduce the availability of handsets with invalid or no IMEI numbers at the imports stage.

DIRBS Challenge

The public at large is not aware of the DIRBS campaign. Even though the procedure of getting your IMEI verified is simpler, however it might not work for people belonging to rural and far flung areas, given the low literacy rates there.

Even some senior citizens in cities might not get understand the procedure of IMEI verification until their relatives and friends guide them within the given period.

The telecom authority should consider sending SMS in English as well as in national and regional languages. It should also put advertisement on media and collaborate with operators and handset makers to drive an awareness campaign.

Benefits of DIRBS

DIRBS has been designed to enhance government revenue by allowing devices that have been imported through proper channels. DIRBS will not only monitor devices being brought into the country in the future, but will also check the installed base of devices currently active or being sold in the channel.

This is not the first time that PTA has been working on blocking of illegal, smuggled and counterfeit phones/tablets based on IMEIs. In fact PTA made similar attempts previously at least thrice in 2008, 2010 and 2013, which proved unsuccessful as IMEI of phones can be changed easily.

Alongside of maintaining the list of IMEIs of illegal, smuggled and stolen phones under DIRBS, PTA will also have to shut down all those mobile shops that offer flashing of IMEIs of mobile phones.

My mobile status is showing IMEI is valid, but I am living out of country and can not register from out of country to PTA, when I back to Pakistan so what will happened my mobile will be blocked “right, so how can register the mobile with PTA before or after 20 October 2018, anyone can explain.

I have a valid IMEI but I am out of country and will be back in Pakistan after the 20th Oct date.
Any has idea if I call to Pakistan with the current phone using international SIM, will it work? DIRBS registration requires some custom certificates etc which I will not have since its a personal phone.

Ahmed Bangash

I am getting an iphone from USA which a friend will bring with him on October 21st. What is the procedure to register my phone then and will I have to pay a fee for registration? I dont wanna pay another $100 as customs.